Sherrah Wines Shiraz McLaren Vale 2019

Sherrah Wines was launched in 2017 by Alex Sherrah and his wife Lizzie, who produce small batch wines from parcels of fruit grown by trusted growers and friends in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Alex cut his winemaking teeth working for wineries of varying sizes around Australia, as well as vintages in Napa, Austria, and Burgundy. He’s a firm believer in hands-on learning and winemaking by gut instinct - although his degrees in organic chemistry, pharmacology, and oenology certainly don’t hurt! Centered around the five grape varietals that grow in the McLaren Vale (fiano, chenin blanc, grenache, nero d’avola, and of course, shiraz), Sherrah sources fruit from prime sites and is a firm believer that winemaking begins in the vineyard, supported by careful handling of fruit in the cellar. This shiraz is a showcase of McLaren Vale, from a single vineyard (the Lacey vineyard in the Tatachilla subregion of the southern Vale). Self-rooted vines are planted on sandy soil that lies atop limestone. The grapes are de-stemmed at harvest, and fermented whole-cluster in an open fermenter, including malolactic fermentation. It is aged for 10 months prior to bottling in 2-3 year old French oak. A delightful combo of old-school depth and concentration of fruit with modern finesse. Dark berries with lots of lift on the nose, this shiraz possesses a savory, spicy core enveloped by juicy fruit and floral flavors. Sustainably grown, vegan.